The move, confirmed minutes ago on Chivas’s website, is both a puzzler and , from another point of view, makes complete sense. After all, Bocanegra is Mexican-American, his father being of Mexican descent. For a U.S.-based team that’s made Latino players their priority, he represents a premium talent. Bocanegra is worth more to Chivas than he would be to any other club.

Still, this is a team that’s spent the entire season shedding salaries, through lopsided trades or the outright departures of the talents that littered Robin Fraser’s squad. What José Luis Real has is a barebones unit that looked to be relying on its connections to a struggling Guadalajara base to bolster its numbers.

Instead, the team’s made a move for one of the most decorated players in U.S. Men’s National Team history, somebody who’s 34 and sure to come with a six-digit price tag. The cost: a first round pick in the 2015 SuperDraft and an international slot through the 2014 season.

He’ll join his club on July 9, pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate.

A rough translation from Chivas USA’s announcement:

“This is great news for Chivas USA, as Carlos Bocanegra is a very experienced player with great image and with a strong desire to be in California after his time in European soccer”, said Chivas USA Sporting President Dennis te Kloese. “I think his experience is going to be very valuable for us, as he knows MLS well from when he played for Chicago Fire, and has a long track record with the U.S. Men’s National Team.”

Which is to say the obvious: Carlos Bocanegra should not only be a very good addition to a struggling Chivas squad, he’ll also provide a face for a team that lack players to market their product. Paired with Walter Vilchez in central defense, Chivas actually have a good center back tandem.

The big question is why. Why, in a process that often sees veterans steer their way to (and away from) locations, did Bocanegra end up with such a controversial franchise?

He’s close to home, that’s one thing. The biggest thing, though, is probably his reluctance to steer the process. While others have said ‘I’ll come back, but only if I end up where I want,’ Bocanegra may not have done that (or, who knows – he may have wanted to be with Chivas).

Regardless, Carlos Bocanegra now has the sympathy of a number of MLS fans, having been allocated to Chivas USA. But with a new coach, a strong Sunday performance against New England, and the speculated arrival of Erick “Cubo” Torres …

In a certain sense, this makes sense. Bocanegra has family in California and the LA Galaxy aren’t looking for center backs right now; as mentioned, the borderline racist (or outright racist) Chivas try to get as many Meixcan or Mexican American MLS players as possible. On the other hand, Chivas seemed determined to cut the budget and Bocanegra won’t come cheaply. It could be they are recruiting via MLS just to have him play for Chivas, I suppose; but that seems pretty unlikely too. Ultimately, while Bocanegra might be closer to home, I doubt he’ll be very happy with his time in Chivas in the long run.

If you want to know where a former US National team member is going to land upon returning to MLS, look at his hometown. McBride (Chicago), Keller (Seattle) and Boca (Los Angeles). He grew up in the suburb of Alta Loma. His brother coaches down the freeway at Cal State Fullerton. It is no mystery. Chivas USA will have a stronger back line. They can’t always make the wrong move.